It's torture.
Thursday, I see her in the quad. She's laughing with Isla and Lennox, her whole face lit up. Happy.
I take a different path. Make sure she doesn't see me. Because if she sees me, she'll remember that I exist.
Friday, Marcus confronts me.
"Okay, what's going on? You've been weird all week."
"I'm backing off. Like she asked." I say not looking at him.
"And you're miserable."
"That's not relevant."
"It's completely relevant." He sits on his desk chair backwards, studying me. "Look, I don't know what happened between you two, but this thing where you're torturing yourself by staying away, it's not healthy."
"Neither is tormenting her by showing up everywhere."
"So find a middle ground. Talk to her. Actually talk, not whatever hostile thing you've been doing."
"She doesn't want to talk to me."
"Have you asked?" I think for a moment before I reply.
"I don't need to ask. She made it very clear."
Marcus sighs. "You're impossible. You know that, right?"
"I'm aware."
My phone buzzes. Email from Professor Hendricks with details about the October trip.
The research visit to NovaShop headquarters is scheduled for October 15-17. Please review the attached itinerary.
Transportation: University van, departure 8 AM on the 15th
Accommodation: Harbor View Hotel, Boston. Rooms assigned by partnership pairs.
Schedule:Day 1 - Travel, evening team briefingDay 2 - Company visit, executive interviewsDay 3 - Data analysis, return trip
Please confirm attendance by the end of week.
I forward it to Ivy without comment.
Her response comes three hours later.Confirmed. I'll bring my own materials. We can work separately.
Me:Whatever you prefer.
Ivy:I prefer we weren't partners at all. But here we are.
I stare at the message for a long time.
Want to respond with:I prefer we were more than partners. I prefer we were what we used to be. I prefer I never hurt you.
Instead, I type.See you on the 15th.
Her response is immediate:Don't make this harder than it has to be.